Short Summary

More than 23,000 lorries including hundreds of petrol tankers were stranded on Thursday (7 June) in various parts of Ethiopia after thousands of lorry drivers went on strike to back demands for better conditions.

Description

More than 23,000 lorries including hundreds of petrol tankers were stranded on Thursday (7 June) in various parts of Ethiopia after thousands of lorry drivers went on strike to back demands for better conditions.

Already private motorists have been queueing for petrol. The strike could have serious political and economic consequences, according to local observers.

The driver-owners, who went on strike on June 4, are circulating a 21 point list of demands. These include a reduction on the tax on diesel oil, standardised tariffs, better treatment from the police, shorter hours and personal accident insurance.

Police broke up a demonstration by striking lorry drivers in Addis Ababa on Thursday (7 June) and there was a report that one demonstrator had been hit by a stray bullet.

The lorry drivers have claimed that 300 of their number have been detained by the police and another two drivers are unaccounted for.

Travellers coming to the capital from surrounding cities reported that the drivers, sometimes aided by students were smashing the windscreens of lorries which refused to stop.

Addis Ababa and other cities could be faced with a grave shortage of fuel and commodities if the strike continues.